A group of campaigners representing Tibetan, Uyghur, Southern Mongolian, Hongkonger and Taiwanese people will hold rallies in over 60 global cities, calling on world leaders, Olympic bodies and sponsors to boycott Beijing 2022 Games.
On International Olympic Day, people from around the world stood in solidarity to deliver the joint message that China must not be allowed to use Beijing 2022 to 'sport-wash' the genocide against the Uyghur people, and escalating repression in Tibet, Southern Mongolia, Hong Kong, and China proper, and the geopolitical bullying of Taiwan.
Dolkun Isa from World Uyghur Congress said: "Olympic Day is supposed to be a day to celebrate diversity, peace, friendship and respect, but China, the next Winter Games hosts, carrying out a genocide against Uyghurs and serious crimes against Tibetans, Mongolians, Hong Kongers and others, there is no room for celebration. Instead, we urge governments, National Olympic Associations, sponsors and athletes to use Olympic Day to commit to not supporting China's heinous human rights abuses and say no to Beijing 2022."
On the other, members of NOlympics in Los Angeles carried out protests since they believe that the Olympics accelerate displacement, militarization, and the erosion of democracy around the world. As per their official website, they believe that "these games and other sporting mega-events threaten to destroy communities and cement cities as playgrounds for the rich".
Here's a look at anti-Olympics protests across the globe.
A general view shows the Olympic Rings lit up at dusk, with the Rainbow bridge and the Tokyo Tower in the background, on the Odaiba waterfront in Tokyo on June 23, 2021. | AFP
A group of anti-Olympic activists march from the metropolitan government building as they protest to mark the 30 days before the Olympic Games opening ceremonies, in Tokyo on June 23, 2021. | AFP
A group of anti-Olympic activists march from the metropolitan government building as they protest to mark the 30 days before the Olympic Games opening ceremonies, in Tokyo on June 23, 2021. | AFP
A group of anti-Olympic activists takes part in a protest outside the metropolitan government building to mark the 30 days before the Olympic Games opening ceremonies, in Tokyo on June 23, 2021. | AFP
A group of anti-Olympic activists takes part in a protest outside the metropolitan government building to mark the 30 days before the Olympic Games opening ceremonies, in Tokyo on June 23, 2021. | AFP
Activists including members of the local Hong Kong, Tibetan and Uyghur communities hold up banners and placards in Melbourne on June 23, 2021, calling on the Australian government to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over China's human rights record. | AFP
An activist stands with the Tibetan flag as he joins a protest by members the local Hong Kong, Tibetan and Uyghur communities in Melbourne on June 23, 2021, calling on the Australian government to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over China's human rights record. | AFP
Activists including members of the local Hong Kong, Tibetan and Uyghur communities hold up banners and placards in Melbourne on June 23, 2021, calling on the Australian government to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over China's human rights record. | AFP
Activists including members of the local Hong Kong, Tibetan and Uyghur communities hold up banners and placards in Melbourne on June 23, 2021, calling on the Australian government to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over China's human rights record. | AFP
Members of NOlympics LA and their supporters gather in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, California on June 22, 2021 calling for the cancellation of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. | AFP
Members of NOlympics LA and their supporters gather in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, California on June 22, 2021 calling for the cancellation of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. | AFP
Members of NOlympics LA and their supporters gather in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, California on June 22, 2021 calling for the cancellation of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. | AFP
Protesters hold a banner as they attend a demonstration in Sydney on June 23, 2021 to call on the Australian government to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over China's human rights record. | AFP
Protesters hold up placards and banners as they attend a demonstration in Sydney on June 23, 2021 to call on the Australian government to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over Chinas human rights record. | AFP
A protester wearing a face mask attends a demonstration in Sydney on June 23, 2021 to call on the Australian government to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over China's human rights record. | AFP
With inputs from ANI.
